England v West Indies, 1st Test, Lord's, 4th day

Chanderpaul and Samuels rebuild West Indies

Lunch West Indies 243 and 212 for 4 (Chanderpaul 73*, Samuels 79*) lead England 398 by 57 runs 

Another Test innings of great introspection by Shivnarine Chanderpaul continued to frustrate England on the fourth morning at Lord's. But it was not solely about Chanderpaul because alongside him Marlon Samuels summoned one of his most disciplined Test displays as West Indies resisted with great dedication.

By lunch, after a wicketless session, the fifth-wicket stand between Chanderpaul and Samuels was worth 147 in 47 overs and Chanderpaul's placid refusal to quit seemed to have influenced his partner, who produced what flashes of entertainment there were for a patient crowd and who can rarely have batted so judiciously for his country.

At the start of play, West Indies trailed by 35 and forecasts abounded that the game would be up by lunchtime. Instead, they reached the interval 57 runs ahead and their minimal expectations would be to take the game into the final day. Chanderpaul had left a flagging England attack desperate for an answer. The second new ball, due an over into the afternoon, would be taken with an element of desperation.

Shiv was Shiv, engaged in an extensive exercise in problem solving. His fifty came in 151 balls and three-and-threequarter hours as he inside-edged Tim Bresnan past leg stump. It was one of his few errors. He raised his bat as if disgusted with himself.

It was decidedly chilly with a brisk northerly wind and if this abysmal weather continues much longer egg-and-bacon overcoats will be de rigueur in London NW8. The pitch remained slow, it was too cold to swing, and England were again faced with the problem of how on earth to rid themselves of Chanderpaul's silent resistance.

They began by bowling wide at him, as they had on Saturday, the repetitive cricket causing spectators to bury themselves dejectedly into their overcoats. When they were driven into bowling straighter, Chanderpaul routinely worked them behind square. England might have been better posting a leg gully, anything to suggest that the shot had an element of risk.

Broad found Samuels' edge; Anderson found Chanderpaul's, but on both occasions the ball fell short of slip. They were reluctant to bowl fuller because there was no movement but as Chanderpaul was as likely to sing a song as drive down the ground their reluctance was hard to fathom. They spent much of the morning trying to get the ball changed, to no avail.

There was always the chance of a run out because Chanderpaul is so immersed in his own game that he is often oblivious to the needs of his partner. He might have been run out by Kevin Pietersen's underarm flick from short mid wicket on 38 when Samuels wanted a single. On another time he ambled halfway down the pitch on the assumption of a single to mid-off and had to retreat as his thought processes were not shared by Samuels. He looked hurt by the thought that he might have been run out and his glare at least found some use for the anti-reflective war paint below his eyes. He did not say anything: like most introverts, he deals in non verbal cues.

Alongside Chanderpaul, Samuels grew in authority. The lesson about how to construct a Test innings, and fight for your team, was seeping in. He was struck on the shoulder by a short ball from Broad and concluded that it was time to adopt a more aggressive approach, pulling him thunderously through midwicket. England will remain convinced that he is shaky on the short ball.

Graeme Swann's introduction was even more to his liking. He stroked the offspinner through the covers and lofted him down the ground. England's four-strong attack looked increasingly impotent and a perambulation by Jonathan Trott only added to the feeling.

Chanderpaul became momentarily frisky as he pulled Bresnan to the square leg boundary. Strauss immediately posted a boundary fielder. There were 92 runs in the session, but it felt like fewer. West Indies were delighted, and rightly so.